n the alert, they relapsed
into silence, making practically no noise as they advanced.

They had covered a distance of several hundred feet when Jack, happening
to glance overhead, saw something that interested him very much. A flock
of wild ducks was circling about, and he pointed them out to Gif.

"I have often seen 'em around here," whispered Gif. "But you'd have to
go a long distance to get 'em unless you could shoot 'em on the wing.
They never settle down in the vicinity of the bungalow."

"Some day I'm going to take a crack at them," said Jack. "That is, if
they fly low enough."

Presently Gif slowed his pace and motioned for the others to do
likewise. They had come out to where there was a small clearing. Here
all gazed around sharply, trying to find some trace of the rabbit run
Gif had mentioned.

"I see one!" exclaimed Spouter presently. "See him? Over yonder," and he
pointed with his hand.

"Yes! And there is another!" answered Jack.

"I see four or five of them," put in Gif.

"Oh, say! there is our chance," ejaculated Fred excitedly. "Let's get
busy at once," and he made as if to raise his shotgun.

"Don't fire yet," cautioned Jack. "We're not close enough."

"Come on! I'll show you a place where we'll have a good chance to get at
those rabbits," said Gif. "Come, follow me."

CHAPTER XV

A CRY FOR HELP

Making as little noise as possible, the other lads followed Gif back
into the woods and then along a snow-laden trail skirting the clearing.

Less than two minutes' walk brought the young hunters to a spot where
were located a series of rough rocks, and here Gif motioned for his
companions to halt.

"I think you will find the rabbits in the hollow just on the other side
of these rocks," he whispered. "Now get you guns ready before you show
yourselves."

Slowly and cautiously they mounted the rocks and then lay down in the
snow on top. They peered into the hollow below, and presently made out
the forms of at least a dozen rabbits running to and fro, evidently
trying to find something among the trees and bushes opposite that would
be fit to eat.

"We might as well fire all at the same time," said Jack. "Because after
the first shot those bunnies will do their best to get to cover."

It was quickly decided that some of the hunters should shoot at the
rabbits directly ahead, while others were to shoot at those to the right
or to the left.

It must be admitted that Fred and Andy wer